Line control for can making machines



Dec. 26, 1933. w H MEYER 1,941,043

LINE CONTROL FOR CAN MAKING MACHINES Filed April 25, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 26, 1933. w H MEYER 1,941,043

LINE CONTROL FOR .CAN MAKING MACHINES Filed April 25, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 26, 1933. w. H. MEYER LINE CONTROL FOR CAN MAKING MACHINES Filed April 25, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 26, 1933. w. H. MEYER LINE CONTROL FOR CAN MAKING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 25, 1932 Patented Dec. 26, I933 j j UNITED STATES PATENTVOFFICE LINE CONTROL FOR CAN MACHINES I William H. Meyer, Chicago, ill., assignor to Contine'ntal Can Company, Inc.-, New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of New York Application April 25, 1932. Serial No. 7,475

3 Claims. (01. 198-426) This invention relates to new and useful im- Fig. 6 is a view of the control mechanism taken provements in a line control for a can making on the line 6, 6 of Fig, 4; v machine, and more particularly toacontrol mech- Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the control out anism for the cans which are fed to a tester. It is on a line for restraining the delivery of cans to a common practice to provide a tester having a the machine when the supply diminishes so as to 60,

series of testing units mounted for rotation about be insufficient so as to completely supply the dea common axis, and each testing unit has a mand of'the machine; pocket or'support to receive the can which is to Fig; 8 is 'a vertical sectional view through the be tested. The cans are fed into these pockets one can runway and showing the control mechanism 19; at a time as theytravel past a delivering chute. in side elevation;

It is essential that a pocket shall be in alinement Fig. 9 is a plan view of the mechanism shown with the chute upon the initial starting of a line in Fig. '7, and

of cans or otherwise the. can is likely to catch Fig. 10 is a view showing the position of the between the side wall of the pocket and the control bell crank when the cans'are forced past") 5; frame resulting in 'a jam. the stop arms.

An object of the present invention is to provide The invention has to do with a line control for a. means for controlling the discharge of the! cans which are being fed to a can machine, andforemostcan into the pocket until the pocket is more particularlyto a tester. The tester inin alinement with. the chute. cludes a series of units, each of which is pro- A further l' the invention is 17 provide vided with a pocket to receive the can and center 75 a control'mechanism for the cans being delivered it between the clamping devices which closes to the can making machine, which automatically the can preparatory to the testing of the same restrains the movements of the cans into the for a leak. The tester wheel carrying the testmachine when the supply of cans on the line is ing units-rotates continuously and the cans are insufiicient to meet the demands of the machine. fed one at a time on to a support associated with A still further object of the invention is to each unit. The cans are delivered to the maprovide a control mechanism for-the cans or the chine froma runway of the usualtype. Adjaabove type wherein the feed of the cans to the cent the tester wheel is a control device in the machine is automatically resumed when there form of a finger which is moved forward into ,9 are sufficient cans to supply the demand of the the open end'ofthe can for restraining the movemachine. merits of the cans. This control finger is in part Theseand other objects will in part be obvious electrically controlled and in part mechanically and will in part be hereinafter more fully dis controlled. Out on the line is a control switch closed. In the drawings which'show byway of which closes the circuit when the supply'of cans illustration one embodiment of the inverition-- on the line ceases in the region of the switch, Figure 1 is a side view showing more or less and when the circuit is established through a diagrammatically a portion of a tester wheel and solen'oid'at the tester wheel, the'con'trol-finger is several of the testing units and also the line disreleased so that removes forward to stop the charging cans into the tester and the control flow of cans. When the switch is closed, the 9 mechanism therefor; solenoid is de-energi'zed. The control finger,

Fig. 2 is a front view showing more or less however, is mechanicallyheld retracted and is diagrammatically parts of a tester, andthe means released by a member carried by the tester wheel, for controlling the delivery of the cans into the so that the can bodies will be released for dissame; charge into the wheel only when the pocket or Fig. 3is a'view partly in section and partly in support of the tester unit is in alinement with .5 cans; of-ates'ter wheel :which is indicated at 1. This side elevation of a portion of the tester wheel from the conveyor. There is on the line associated the opposite side as viewed in Fig. 1; with theswitch which stops the flow of cans; a Fig. 4 is a viewpartly in section and partly in control. device which insures that the switch will plan showing the control mechanism for conremain closed and the finger held in position for 501 trolling the movements of the cans with theconrestraining the movements of the cans until sufiitrol finger retracted; cient cansaccumulate on the line to supply the Fig. 5 is a planview of a portion of the mecha: normal demand of the machine. nism shown in Fig. 4, with the control finger in Referringmore in detail to the drawings, in

position for restraining the movements of the Fig. 1 thereis shown diagramatically. a portion no wheel is mounted for rotation about an axis 2. Mounted on the wheel is a series of tester units indicated at 3, 3. Each tester unit includes a support 4 on which the can rests preparatory to clamping the same against the pad 5 by the movement of a plate 6 which engages the bottom of the can. This forces the open end of the can against the pad, thus closing the can, after which it is tested for a leak. The mechanism of the tester is of the usual character and forms no part of the present invention. The plate 6 and the support 4 are carried by a rod '7 which is mounted for endwise reciprocation in the frame of the wheel. A link 8 is connected at its outer end to a pin 9 mounted on the rod, and at its inner end to a pin 10 carried by the arm 11 which is attached to the shaft 12. Also mounted on the shaft 12 is an arm 13 carrying a roller 14. The roller 14 passes between two cam-shaped guide plates 15, 15 attached to the frame which swings the arm 13'to the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position the arm 11 and link 8 are substantially in alinement, and the rod 7 has been moved endwise so as to clamp the can against a pad for testing. This movement of the rod 8 is so timed that the parts are not moved until a can is placed on the support 4. The cans are indicated in the drawings at C. The cans travel along a horizontal runway of the usual type which is indicated at 16. They are moved along the runwayv by a cable 17. They are passed by the cable into a vertical runway 18 and are fed by gravity into a runway 19 which leads to the tester wheel. The axis of the can is substantially horizontal as it passes into the tester wheel. The pivoted arm 20 carrying the flexible member 21 bears on the cans after they pass into the wheel and aids in holdingthe can properly seated on the support while it is being clamped. Adjacent the tester wheel is a control finger 22 carried by a rod 23 mounted for endwise movement in supporting brackets 24 and 25. On the end of the rod is a head 26 in which the control finger 22 is clamped. As clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5, the open end of the can faces the finger, and when the rod23 is moved to the right from the position shownin Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, the fingeris moved into the can and will restrain the movement of the canalong the runway. This stops the fiowof cans along the runway. The finger is moved intothe can for restraining the flow of the cans by the solenoid 27, the core 28 of which is pivotally connected to a bell crank lever 29 mounted on a bracket 30. The bell crank lever at its upper end is connected to a collar 31 fixed to the rod 23. A weight 32 is attached to the lower end of the core 28. When the solenoid is energized, the core 28 is raised, and this will move the rod 23 to the right to the dotted line position in Fig. 2, and the full line position in Fig. 5. Thus the fiow of cans into the machine is stopped. Associated with the runway 16 is a control switch which includes an arm 33. This arm is attached to a shaft which also carries a weight 34 normally pressing the arm upwardly. 'The upward movement of the arm is restrained by the cans C passing along the runway. If the supply of cans gives out, then the arm 33 will swing into the path of travel of the cans and this will close the switch in the switch box 35. Closing the switch in the switch box 35 energizes the solenoid 27 and shifts the control finger so as to stop the movement of the cans into the tester wheel. When the supply of cans on the runway 16 is resumed, the arm 33 is depressed by the engagement of the cans therewith, and this will open the circuit and de-energize the solenoid. In order that the control finger will still be held in position to prevent the movement of the cans into the tester wheel until a pocket or support is in pro er position to receive the can, a mechanical latch is provided which holds the control finger in its forward position. Mounted on the shaft 36 is an arm 37 which when moved upwardly, engages the rod 23. The shaft 36 also carries an arm 38. Attached to the arm 38 is an adjustable head 39 carrying a finger 40. A spring 41 is attached at one end to the arm 38 and at its other to the supporting bracket 42 for the shaft 36. This spring normally moves the arm 38 downwardly thus raising the arm 37. When the control finger is retracted, the arm 3'7 contacts with a collar 43 adjustably mounted thereon. When the control finger is moved to the right to the position shown in Fig.5, then the arm 37 engages the rod 23, and movement of the rod to the left is restrained by the arm 37. The. finger normally overlies the path of travel of the links 8 when the arm 37 is raised. Upon the energizing of the solenoid, the rod 23 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 5, and the arm 37 will contact with the rod, so that whenthe solenoid is de-energized, the collar 43 engages the arm and restrains the movements of the finger. the finger 40 in the path of travel of the link 8 of the approaching testing unit. The link 8 will, therefore, strike the arm 40, thereby swinging the arm 37 downward and release the rod 23 so that the weight 32 will retract the same.

From the above it will be apparent that a control means has been provided which stops the flow of cans when the supply on the runway diminishes and is insufficient to meet the normal demand of the testing machine. As soon as the supply is resumed, the solenoid is released, but the control finger remains in its forward position restricting the flow of cans until a mechanical latch is tripped and this allows the cans to flow forward, but only at the time when the pocket or support of the testing unit is in alinement with the delivery chute.

After the flowof cans has been stopped, it is desirable that the feed of the cans should not be resumed until there are suflicient cans on the line to supply the normal demand of the machine. In other words, it is not desirable to release the cans when only one or two cans on the line pass the switch arm, unless there are other cans to follow to be fed to the machine. The line is, therefore, provided with a device for controlling the forward movement of the cans until a considerable number accumulate on the line. This control device includes two. arms 44, 44 attached to the head 45 of a lever 46. The ,lever 46 is pivoted at 4'7 in a bracket 48 attached to the side of the; runway. There is an-arm 49 formed as an extension of the lever 46. This arm 49 extends through an elongated opening 50 in an arm 51 of a rock lever which is pivoted at 52. The other arm 53 of the rock lever hasan opening therethrough to receive the core 54 of asolenoid 55. This core 54 is provided'with a fixed collar 56, and at the lower end of the collar is a nut 5'7 carrying a washer 58 which serves as an abutment for a spring 59. When the solenoid is energized, the lever is oscillated and will move the arms 44 into the runway so as to stop the flow of cans. The cans may be stopped and the This lowers the arm 38 and places cable will slip underneath the cans. The solenoid 55 is in multiple with the solenoid 27 so that when the arm 33 is raised, the solenoid 55 will be energized and will move these arms 44 into a position for stopping the fiow of cans. As'the' cans accumulate on the line, the pressure against the arms is greatly increased and will finally reach a force so as to compel thearms to move out of the path of travel of the cans. At this time the spring 59 is compressed and allows the arms to move sufficiently to permit the cans to pass, although the solenoid 55 is still energized, and the core held in raised position. As the cans pass the ends of the arms 44, they will engage the arm 33, depressing the same, and this willbreak the circuit and de-energize the solenoid 55, which v drops by its own weight.

In the operation of the control mechanism as a whole, the flow of the cans at the tester wheel is stopped when the supply of cans out on the line decreases sufficiently so as to permit the arm 33 to be raised. The arm 33 is only depressed for re-establishing the flow of cans into the machine after sufficient cans have accumulated on the line to supply the normal demand of the machine for a time at least. When the supply is sufiicient to pass the arms 44 and open the switch by depressing the arm 33, thus de-energizing the solenoid at the tester wheel, still the control finger is not released until the mechanical latch is tripped, and this occurs when the pocket of the tester unit is in proper alinement with the delivery chute to receive the can.

While the invention has been described specifically as applied to the control of cans flowing into a tester machine, it will be understood that it may be used in connection with other machines where it is desired to time the cans into the machine when the fiow of cans to the machine is initiated. Afterthe fiow of cans has been properly initiated, the pockets are so spaced from each other that the cans control their own alinement. That is to say, if the can passing from the delivery chute is properly timed into one pocket of a testing unit, the next following can will be properly timed into the succeeding testing unit.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-,

the movement of the cans in the discharge chute including a control finger, a solenoid, means controlled by the solenoid and connected tosaid finger so that'when said solenoid is energized the finger will be moved into the path of travel of the cans, means for retracting the finger when the solenoid is de-energized, a latch, yielding means for moving the latch so as to hold the control finger in a position for engagement with the cans and means carried by a traveling part of the machine and associated with each operating unit for releasing the latch in proper time for discharging the advancecans into a passing,

retracting the finger, mechanical means operated I by a moving part in the can machine for restraining the movement of the control finger when released by the solenoid and for releasing said finger at a predetermined time for discharging the advance can into a passing operating unit, a switch on the line at a point distant from themachine having an arm yieldingly moved into the path of travel of thecans for closing the switch, said switch being connected in circuit with the solenoid whereby when the cans give out on the line, the switch will be closed and the I solenoid energized, arms on the line for restraining the movement of the cans on to the switch arm, a solenoid connected to said arms for moving the arms into the path of travel of the cans when energized, said solenoid being connected in circuit with the switch whereby when the switch is closed, the arms move into the path of the cans, and yielding means for connecting said last-named solenoid with the arms whereby when they cans accumulate on the line in sufiicient number, the cans will be forced past said arms into engagement with the switch arm, opening the switch and breaking the circuit for both solenoids.

3. The combination of a can machine having a series of traveling operating units, a discharge chute for delivering cans one at a time to the passing units, and mechanism for controlling the movement of the cans in the discharge chute including a control finger, a solenoid, a rock shaft attached to the solenoid, said rock shaft being connected to said control finger, and disposed so that when said solenoid is energized, the finger will be moved into the path of travel of the can, means for retracting the finger when the solenoid is de-energized, a latch, yielding means for moving said latch so as to hold the control finger v in a position for engagement with the cans, and

means carried by a traveling part of the machine and associated withLeach operating unit for releasing-the latch in proper time for discharging the advance can into a passing operating unit.

' WILLIAM H. MEYER. 

